Ageism, ahh ageism, the insidious harmful belief about aging. But what is it exactly?
What is Ageism?
According to the World Health Organization, Ageism includes three components:
- Stereotype: how we think about others (or ourselves) based on age. For instance, “Older adults are going to deplete us of our resources by using their social security and medicare.” Or, “I think at a certain age, older people should stop driving.”
- Prejudice: how we feel about others based (or ourselves) on age. Like, “I feel sad when I see older adults at the grocery store alone. I feel sorry for them”
- Discrimination: how we act towards others based on age. For example: “I try not to sit next to older folks in a work meeting”
Ageism is not only directed at others, but also ourselves. Ever thought, “I don’t like the way I look as I age”?
What are the types of ageism?
Ageism can take on many forms. Here are three strains of ageism described in a recent Columbia Mailman School of Public Health article:
Hostile ageism is the most overt type of ageism, which shows up in the form of physical, financial, and verbal abuse. It’s also implicated in the perception of older adults as a drain on societal resources. The term “Silver Tsunami” that is used to describe the baby boomer population “flooding” society and depleting all of its resources is one example. During COVID, the hashtag, “boomer remover” used across social media platforms is another harmful example.
Neglectful ageism is a variation of ageism that overlooks the contributions of older adults and makes them invisible. For example, under the initial perception of COVID-19 as a disease primarily affecting older and immunocompromised persons, many healthy younger adults initially ignored recommendations to socially isolate and protect their older relatives. The pendulum may have swung too far the other way, leading us to the third strain of ageism…
Benevolent ageism is a compassionate but paternalistic point of view, grouping older adults together as one uniformly frail and vulnerable population requiring protection. This type of ageism is harmful in that it degrades an individual’s sense of self-efficacy.
Ageism exists in society and within each of us
Structural ageism refers to the phenomenon of ageism being prevalent in systems and structures in society, like the healthcare system, work places, churches, etc. Structural ageism includes:
- Denial of access to health care
- Having resources including medical services rationed due to age
- Exclusion from clinical trials
- Limited work opportunities for older adults
Individual ageism is another type of ageism best described by the Stereotype Embodiment Theory (also called Stereotype Embodiment Threat). This theory suggests that we internalize stereotypes about older adults throughout our lifespan and that when we believe ageist stereotypes about ourselves, they can have a significant impact on our physical health and mental health as we age.
